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take in
/teɪk ɪn/◆phrasal verb
to absorb or understand information
She took in the details of the contract carefully.
She carefully absorbed and understood the details of the contract.
informal
to absorb or understand information
The students took in the teacher's explanation quickly.
The students understood the teacher's explanation quickly.
He took in the news with shock.
He absorbed the news with shock.
Often used when someone is processing new information or understanding something deeply.
informal
to deceive or trick someone
The scammer tried to take in the elderly woman with a fake story.
The scammer tried to deceive the elderly woman with a fake story.
Less common usage, often used in negative contexts.
formal
to admit someone into a place, such as a hospital or school
The hospital took in emergency patients during the storm.
The hospital admitted emergency patients during the storm.
Used in formal or institutional contexts.
informal
to take someone or something into one's home or care
They decided to take in a stray cat.
They decided to take a stray cat into their home.
Often used when referring to adopting or caring for someone or something.
Collocations
take in informationto absorb or understand informationtake in a patientto admit a patient to a hospitaltake in a strayto take in an animal or person who needs care
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Context Matters
The meaning of 'take in' changes based on the context. Pay attention to the surrounding words to determine the correct meaning.
Gold Rule
Avoid Confusion
Do not confuse 'take in' with 'take on' or 'take out', as they have different meanings.
Word Origin
The phrase 'take in' comes from the combination of the verb 'take' and the preposition 'in'. The verb 'take' has multiple meanings, including to receive or admit, while 'in' can indicate inclusion or absorption. The phrase has been used in English for centuries with various meanings.
Usage Notes
The meaning of 'take in' depends heavily on the context. It can mean to absorb information, to deceive, to admit someone into a place, or to take someone or something into one's care. Be careful to use the correct meaning based on the situation.
Word Breakdown
take
to receive or admit
rootin
indicating inclusion or absorption
prepositionEnglish Dictionary